Carve pumpkin top as usual, keeping in mind the circumference of your candle.

Clean out the inside and rinse with with water. Interested in preserving the life of your centerpiece? Try treating the inside with bleach.

Fill the pumpkin a little more than halfway with beans or marbles (to hold faux flowers in place). Using fresh flowers? Fill it with water. Note: If you need a fancy centerpiece fast, skip this step. Fresh flowers are so flexible that the candle will hold them well enough. Your dinner party will be over and no one will suspect a thing.

Arrange flowers around the opening. You can also use dried berries or leaves.

Fit the candle into the pumpkin, nice and snug, and light.

Questions? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Friday.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

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